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Luxor

Map showing Luxor

Luxor is one of Egypt's great tourist attractions. Commonly known as the world's largest open air museum, Luxor is built on and around the ancient site of Thebes.

Luxor is three separate areas each with their own highlights:

 

 

The City of Luxor

Don't miss:

Luxor Museum houses many of the relics found at the Theben temples on the West Bank.

Luxor Temple is situated in the center of town. It is spectacular yet so compact it can be visited in an hour !

The Mummification Museum has everything - reptiles, birds as well as humans!

Karnak

Home of Amun Ra, king of the gods. Built by the Ancient Egyptians in several episodes of construction and enlargement from 2055 B.C to 395 A.D. It was originally surrounded by the famous city of Thebes,

The Temple of Karnak

A vast complex of ruined temples, chapels and other buildings. It is located north of Luxor. There are three main temples, plus smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples.

The Temple of Amun

Situated in the center of the complex., the temple of Amun in Thebes became an important institution in the administration of Egypt. Its head was the high priest of Amun; under him there were the second, third and fourth priest of Amun. The temple offered the state a secure place of administering and developing large agricultural estates, and its enclosure-walls provided safe high ground for grain stores, protected from the annual river flood and from human attack. In effect the temple of Amun became the branch of state administration for governing Upper Egypt. On a smaller scale, temples throughout Egypt acted as local branches of state administration - the 'banks' of ancient Egypt.

The Temple of Monthu is to the north of Amun,with the Temple of Ptah nearby.

The Temple of Mut

Situated to the south. Read more

Plan to spend half a day visiting the Temple of Karnak at least

Ancient Thebes

Crossing the Nile to the West of the city of Luxor lies the necropolis of ancient Thebes. Because there is so much to see , guided tours usually enter 3 tombs at the major archaelogical sites:

Which Tombs and Temples are open? »

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